What is more, the President gave two weeks to a task force to sanitise the area. Although the Presidential Task Force chaired by the Vice-President commenced operations immediately after Buhari’s order, the lamentation from residents, business owners and visitors to Apapa is still loud. According to the immediate past Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, the government needs about N100 billion to reconstruct the Apapa roads. It is a major reason why trade (cargo throughput) at the Apapa ports was estimated at 71.5 million tonnes in 2018, which is grossly low. This is the global best practice in port operations: the reduction of human interface reduces costs, promotes efficiency and eliminates corruption.

Source: Punch June 22, 2019 23:15 UTC